Koizumi, Baud to Join Juncadella in No. 82 TF Corvette

Image: TF Sport

TF Sport has announced the final driver lineup for its two-car Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R effort in the FIA World Endurance Championship, naming Hiroshi Koizumi and Sebastien Baud to the No. 82 entry alongside the previously confirmed Dani Juncadella.

It follows last week’s confirmation of the No. 81 lineup in the LMGT3 class.

Koizumi, who finished runner-up in the GT3 class of Michelin Le Mans Cup, made his WEC debut in this year’s 6 Hours of Fuji in an AF Corse-run Ferrari 488 GTE Evo and is now set for a full season in the globe-trotting championship.

“I am really proud to work with such experienced drivers like Daniel and Sebastien,” he said.

“I am looking forward to team up with Daniel Juncadella, winner of Macau and a successful DTM driver: it will definitely be a new opportunity for me.

“We will do our best to be the number one driver package in the GT3 class.”

The 2024 season will mark Baud’s WEC debut, meanwhile, following a history of GT3 competition that included a second place finish in the Bronze Cup of Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup this year.

“I am so excited to know that I am making a childhood dream come true,” Baud said.

“It is an honor to join a successful team like TF Sport in the WEC. I will be driving a Corvette Z06 GT3.R, a car that marked my inspiration in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“I am looking forward to work with my more experienced teammates, from whom I will be able to learn even more, especially from Dani. Thanks to the team for the trust.”

All three drivers will be virtually new to the series, although Corvette Racing factory driver Juncadella will bring years of success in top-line GT3 machinery with him.

“New team, new brand, new car, new teammates, everything is a new challenge and it’s really exciting,” he said.

“I am stoked to get to know the team well, to get to know Hiroshi during testing at the start of the season and also Seb, who I already know a little bit.

“I’m very keen to team up with them and get to work from day one: I hope we will have a strong season.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John